Update – First Family Visit to Panama City Beach Confirmed

It’s official – President Barack Obama, wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha will be vacationing here in Panama City Beach from Saturday August 14th to Monday, August 16th 2010.

This will only be the third time that the whole first family has come to the area on vacation – so like him or not, this is set to be a significant event in Panama City Beach history! Confirmed by the white house, the presidential visit is a personal trip with no business or public events planned. There’s some speculation about accommodations but a source states that the Obamas will be staying at the Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa. Another source says the hotel location will not be within Panama City Beach limits.

We’ll have to wait and see what happens next weekend once the first family touches down in Panama City Beach, but PCBDaily.com will keep you updated with details as they come in.

76 thoughts on “Update – First Family Visit to Panama City Beach Confirmed”

PCBDaily.com will keep you updated with details as they come in.
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I doubt there will be many details released as the Secret Service will put a lid on it. You will be able to tell when one of them is out and about as whatever route they travel will be shut down entirely.

Those with scanners will have a shot at tuning in on the police and SS bands for some details. PCB PD uses a ‘trunked system’ which makes locking in on their transmissions somewhat more difficult. Probably the SS scrambles their transmissions but I haven’t listened to them for years so it is a guess on that.

It is great that the first family recognize the natural beauty of Bay County to the point of visiting. Perhaps Mrs. Obama’s visit really did move her to go home and tell her husband; “What a great day I had on the beach!”.
I hope they have a great time and inspire thousands of others to come and visit this beautiful area.

Wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t stay in Alys Beach at the Hilton home, as bizarre as it is. Hilton is a developer with megabucks, what with owning the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort also. Of course, no one will know for sure where they will stay, that will never be disclosed.

Its a GREAT thing! Bring a little class to our shores…what a bunch of haters; so WHAT Jan, the only people he got S*** from is people like YOU that hate him anyway and complain about him. Again, damned if he does and damned if he doesnt with you people. Unreal. She came here, you b**ched, they went somewhere else, long planned, for a trip, you b**ched, they decide last minute to come here to TRY to help out, and maybe to appease those that b**tch but dont really want to be appeased cause then you might have to admit he really IS trying to make both sides happy…screw it I say. Keep doing what youre doing, Obama; as much as everyone likes to forget recent history, YOU are the pulling us, little tiny piece at a time, back from the brink of ruin.

Whether we agree with all of Pres. Obama’s decisions or not….let’s show our honor & respect for the office and our own nation and our own county! And remember the golden rule….treat others the way you want to be treated…right? This is the REAL. FUN. BEACH….so let’s enjoy their company!

While our President may or may not please everyone with his decisions… one thing all of us own him is our respect. I hear so many people bashing him, his family, his wife….. You should be ashamed to write such!
In fact I am ashamed for you. It really disheartens me as an American bore here that so many citizens would forget how to act with respect.
As this lady said: We should all remember the golden rule and treat people how we want to be treated.
I hope they have a lovely visit in PCB for it is a wonderful place.
Thank you!

No, it wasn’t. Or rather, I can’t find any quote of hers saying that. I did find a few where pundits tried to twist things that weren’t that into her being “ashamed of America” – but nowhere can I find evidence that she said it.

I have no respect for people who blindly believe what they hear and base their entire liking/disliking for a person on what they were *alleged* to have said.

i have no respect for someone who supports someone who is doing nothing but destroying or country and takeing away from the medicare you know you will need medicare one day wonder if there will be any for you

Look, if they *really* expected the best, they’d never come to the Redneck Riviera in the first place. Do you think he’s not aware of the fact that this is a gun-toting, republican, redneck, racist area? I commend his bravery for showing his face down here… I live here, I’m white, and *I* can barely stand the hate.

The only reason he is coming is because he received heat from going to Maine. Just how many vacations does he get???? Wife and daughter just come back from a taxpayer paid vacation to a resort in Spain. I am looking forward to 2012 when we will get a President who cares about our country.

Those who can’t afford to feed their children do not pay for the Obama vacations because they don’t pay taxes. Over 50% of Americans paid no income tax last year. Renee, et al: spend more time doing something constructive about your situation(s) and less time complaining and looking for someone else to fix things. Look for the good in life. Try to find a way to shine a GOOD spotlight on PCB and the gulf coast. This is your moment to shine. Don’t waste it. Don’t post such negative representations of PCB. Be a good internet ambassador for your area.

LOL Jellen i work a full time job thank u very much.this president is takeing vacations and the tax payers are paying for it,instead of all these vacations he should be putting that money and time toward things more needed he is cutting medicare and takeing money from social security to pay other things.our senior citizens worked hard for this and put their money they worked for in to it,now i will say again instead of takeing the many vacations he has taken he needs to put our money to better use,I have a job but there are many americans who do not and i feel for these people but evidently you dont you seem to think these people should find a way to shine as you say come on i am sure these people would love to have a job to take care of their families.you seem not to be the type of person who really cares about others i guess as long as you and your are ok its all good.thats sad

Oh happy day………… as long as he doesn’t interfer with my hard earned vacation I don’t give a rats a** what he does or where he goes. I hardly think he will be going to Montego Bay or Schooners for dinner………… But if he happens to be there, I will show respect. He is afterall all we got right now.. LOL (and I meant to say got) I have never seen a President up close and personal and think it would be kinda neat. Even if I didn’t vote for him and can’t wait till he is done… Friday can’t get here soon enough….
Sun Surf and Sand here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not an Obama supporter, but the guy and his family are entitled to take vacations and by the way, no matter where in the world the president is, he is always the president and always in contact with his advisors, otherwise, he would never be able to leave the country. Actually, the press make more of what the president and his family members do more than anyone else. Were it not for the press, we wouldn’t have a clue that he and his family are coming here and so what if he went to Maine first. If I could, I would vacation in Maine now and then too. It’s a beautiful place and so is PCB, but they are different places, not necessarily in competition with each other. And how do we know that the first lady went to Spain on taxpayer dollars? The press said so? The republicans said so? He, Obama, makes a hefty salary and they already have money to begin with, so it is possible that she went on her own dollar. The Secret Service is another issue entirely. To assume that anyone, presidential or a plumber, should not take a vacation because of the economic climate, is assinine. He and his family should stay at the White House all summer because many people are out of work, have lost their homes, cannot afford to take vacations themselves or have no medical insurance and no way to pay for needed medical and dental care? Lots of folks right here in PCB on their vacations from all parts north of here. Should they all go home and run through the sprinklers to show their support for those who are at an economic disadvantage at this time? I am still not an Obama supporter because I lean more to the right, moderately, but I am still capable of sensible thought and fair play.

no one said he shouldnt have a vacation but 8 come on obama supporters need to get a clue.you are paying for his many vacations.while they take money from other places trying to fix the economy takeing money from medicare the people who built this country

Our military personnel are paid crap, the country is broke and our unemployment is out of hand, but the country with it’s worst deficit ever can afford to protect he and his family while they flint all over the world on vacation. I would love to take one vacation…but due to this economy, the economy that he and his “change” has caused, and the fact that he has hit small businesses the hardest, I can’t afford a picnic in my own backyard! WAY TO Go Obama and team…Reed and Palosi!

PCB’ers the traffic will come to a standstill for hours everytime he moves. I saw it in S.C. as Clinton and family moved around the island of Hilton Head (back when we could afford a vacation!) Stay home and heat a frozen pizza!

he makes 400thousand a year i say lets cut the pres pay not just obama all of them and put some of the money where it is needed.awww and yes the change isnt it lovely.he made a change all right but it wasnt good

Renee,
I have agreed with most of your positions on this blog however when you bring up money they make, you do seem a bit naive. What any politician in Washington makes with his salary is only a fraction of the cost to the tax payers. All their staff and travel and office space in multiple cities. And as far as their take home pay, that salary is at best one months take. Even newer Senators and Representatives make Millions more than their salary.

Tracy you are a vulgar and disgusting person, no matter what someone’s views are, we owe who ever is the President, respect for the office. There should be no tolerance for this type of language especially on a public web site.

Even as a non-Obama supporter I gasped at that comment. One might think they would like that to happen but just let it happen and see what happens in the US…. NO ONE should wish someone else dead… that is just tacky!!

And everyone deserves a vacation. I take 2 per year and LOVE every minute of it… But I do have a job, 2 actually and drive a very long way to and from work everyday of the week. (180 miles RT per day).

yes everyone deserves a vacation(everyone)but i would rather not use my tax dollars to pay for the president to take all the vacations he takes when we are in the shape we are in now,1 or 2 ok but he has went overboard dont you think.

dont wish him dead just wish he would have more concern for our nation,maybe when he is done takeing all his vacations he will concentrait on how to help our country and rethink some of his choices and find a way to improve all the damage

And, perhaps in-between posts, you can enroll in a remedial English class and work on your grammar, punctuation, and spelling. All of which are just awful. It is amazing how many people find fault in others – while they themselves have so much to work on and areas that are in need of improvement. Maybe, just maybe, if everyone was a little more concerned with being the best THEY can be and less preoccupied with finding faults in others, the world would be a little better place. Renee, stop hating, go to school and spend some time to work on you. I am sure by the time you are done the world will have changed just a bit.

How can those with limited and often incorrect information feel they have the right to spout hateful and threatening comments regarding others just because they feel politically opposed? America elected this president and he and his family deserve the respect due the office. To refute Obama’s views in favor of your own is appropriate when the facts are correct, but we should strive to keep our opinions regarding his personal and family life within acceptable limits when they do not affect his job as president. The family is taking just a very few days in the Panama City area. I applaud their dedication to making time for family when it’s possible. I hope they have an enjoyable time!

It seems to me someone such as the President of the United States, makes some fairly important decisions. Instead of getting paid hundreds of millions of dollars for this position as would be the case if he was in the private section, he merely gets paid hundreds of thousands of dollars. That being the case I think the country can afford to spring for his holidays. And as far as the trip to Spain goes, I heard that this was a private trip paid for out of their own money, albeit, the secret service etc. was paid for from tax payers dollars. But do you really begrudge the President of the United States taking a vacation?

Btw, anyone who thinks the President or even the government can create jobs is nieve in the extreme.

The best they can do is create an environment where the private sector wants to create jobs because they’ll make profits from doing so. Now even if that is done it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen, because there’s more to it than merely creating an evironment, the companies also have to believe there’s going to be an increase in demand in their products and/or services they provide and unfortunately high unemployment rates create a vicous cycle in that no one wants to buy anything if they are unemployed and consequently no one wants to hire anyone because there’s no increase in demand. Obama for all his faults isn’t responsible for this, and normally governments aren’t responsible in general because it naturally occurs in business cycles, however in this particular case, one can point to the lack of financial regulations which directly lead to this reccecssion as being a fundamental cause, as it caused the housing market to be artifically inflated and people felt they were wealthier than they were, and when the bubble burst, reality set it and it’s been ugly every since.

That’s why we need to enjoy our time at PCB because it’s a beautiful escape..

Dear Mr. President and Family, Welcome to the PCB, the Redneck Riviera. Please excuse the bigoted, ill informed, and plain lied to and mislead. There seems to be an excessive in PCB whose archaic cultural environment combined with twisted media like Fox News creates a scared frustration, a sense of betrayal, and toxic misplaced hatred. I think most of the world’s people that are rational and informed, think you are doing the best you can for America and the everyday people with the many disasters you inherited from decades of unfair aristocratic and cold-blooded corporate greed and corruption. As Jim Hightower (Ex-Texas politician, populist, author) says “When we all do better, we all do better”. If what you speak is truly what you believe and you do all in your power to pursue it, I think American history will applaud you. Good luck with that dysfunctional government and have a relaxing and enjoyable visit to the emerald coast. I find a walk on the beach at sunset melts the stresses and fog of the day and recharges the batteries to continue the struggle for good. Thanks for your service to your country. A retired veteran DJ

Point well taken. Sorry, I got on a roll. I worked for the government for 33 years, Military and Civilian. I’ve lived in and traveled to many countries, a lot of info and views rattling around up there. In my view this president is a breath of fresh air and is doing what he can for the collective considering the situation. I just wish people would lighten up and give the guy “our president” a chance.

I am president of a great company, hired many good people, managed 20 baseball teams & coached many fine young men, married for 30+ years, all my kids have graduated or are in college, promoted mant charitable events . . . and you know what, this is all true and not even close to what I have have done. What about Jellen? I bet, no, I know you have doen nothing, as you need liberal Barrack to take care of you!! Come on, bring it on, what have you done with your life?

You are making big assumptions. I am not a fan of Barack Obama. Nor am I a fan of negativity where positivity is called for. This is not a p…sing match nor should it be. That’s the opposite of my point. This article is about a chance to promote PCB, not about an anti-politician slam.

I have never been so ashamed of the ignorance displayed on this website.
Showcasing Panama City Beach to the world is worth a fortune to businesses.
I love it down there and know how people have been hurting since the oil spill
even though it didn’t hit the beach people canceled their plans and June was
very slow. Real Estate market came to a halt. What an honor that Panama City
Beach was chosen.
I know when the worst economy I have known in my lifetime came and it was
the end of the Bush administration. That is the fact.

Renee, You have dominated this conversation with 9 remarks, all negative and weak. How about a big hot cup of “Shut the @#$! Up?
Renee please spare us and assume this to be a rhetorical question? I mean that in the kindest way.

I Agree with Terry G,
This is a great opportunity for Panama City Beach to get recognized for what it has to offer. I have traveled to 17 countries and have visited hundreds of beached around the world. In my opinion Panama City Beach ranks as one of the most beautiful and family friendly beaches in the world. With our new airport booming and the exposure from the visit of the President and Family we should be excited to show off PCB and our southern hospitality.

For the record. . .
the Great Recession started rolling in Dec. ’07 — the end of the first year in which the Democrats had FULL control of Congress! Businesses of all sizes began to feel uncertainty and started cutting back. Consequently, business and consumers stop spending freely and money does not circulate in a threatening environment! It’s a downward spiral.

“Spreading the wealth around” via government programs and liberal social engineering experiments does NOT — and has never worked in ANY free and prosperous society!

I am a resident in another state, but have supported the citizens of Panama City for 30 years with my condo property and bed taxes, and I am thrilled with the Obama visit. It is publicity that we cannot buy. I saw a spike in rental inquiries following Michelle Obama’s visit unlike any time in the past 3 years. In those 3 years my rental income has dropped almost 50%, beginning with the spike in gasoline prices, followed by economy woes, and this year’s oil spill. Unlike residents, most of the condo owners in PC, have no one here to look out for their interests and can’t vote out the people who think the only way to fund anything on this beach is by increasing the bed tax on our guests and property taxes on out of state owners, who have absolutely no representation. I fully expect this to help bring in tourist $ this fall when our rental check would be close to $0 and new visitors to this beach next year. It can only be a benefit to all of us – whether we are residents or not.

How wonderful that the first family chose to spend a 4 day vacation here on Panama City Beach! This is “priceless” for everyone who lives & works here! No amount of money can buy this advertizing that we so desperately need. For anyone who is not familiar with our beaches,” we have been the best kept secret” for a long time now. Our beaches are simply beautiful ! Soft snowy white sand just waiting for your toes! Water so emerald color it welcomes you to jump in! Simply Beautiful to all that have visited us! I hope anyone reading this will “book” or “simply show up” a quick getaway from home and come to visit us! It will be the best decision you will ever make!

Don’t forget when you visit Panama City Beach to eat at some of our local restaurants. Recomended buy a local – ( who really eats at these great restaurants )

Hooter’s on the Beach , wonderful view & sunsets while eating on their back porch, execellent service & food — –

Schooners on the beach, exec. food, service & music —

Panama Pizzarea, west end of beach , exec. Italian food & pizza , this is across from the beach —

Thomas’s Donuts , best donut you will ever eat, freshly made every morning, for lunch, they have the best french fries & good hamburgers —

All listing above are “family friendly” and really really great FOOD, FUN & MEMORIES that will be remembered for a long time after you have gone home!!!!
from a” LOCAL” that gets nothing from these places except ” Great Food” & would never lead you wrong! Only wish I have is that you have a wonderful time and return for many years of future “Memories” and you might even get to see the “First Family”! Have a great Time !!

“What a wonderful country ” we all live in! Just think, if you lived anywhere else, you could not say all the nasty and disrespectful things you have said about “OUR FIRST FAMILY” — Yes that is right – OUR FaMiLy — the United States of America where anyone can say anything and not be eliminated from this earth. Shame on you people! Thank god we don’t all agree – what a boring world it would be.

Way to go Mr. President! Thank you for visiting Panama City Beach and bringing your FAMILY! I look forward to your visit and wish your family the best time ever! I hope you will be able to enjoy our beaches as many others have! Remember: RELAX & ENJOY OUR BEACH !!!! You deserve IT !

My vote is never based on whether the person is a Republican or Democrat. I do not try to see the President because he is a Republican or Democrat. When President Bush’s motorcade came down Tyndall Parkway, we rushed out of the office to wave and take pictures. When Clinton came we tried to see him. I hope I get to at least catch a glimpse of President Obama, this time. Someday when I am telling my grandchildren about my life, I can say “I saw the President of the United States of America”. If we get a new President in 2012, I will try to see him too if he ever comes to this area to visit. I will read the same negative comments I am reading now. I don’t know that there will ever be one who makes us all happy. If we were all given a million dollars, those of us who used it wisely would be happy, those who did not would be complaining about being poor. oh well that’s what makes this country great, you can say anything you want and keep your freedom and your head. Have a beautiful day everybody. it’s five oclock , my work day is over and my beer is calling my name.

Why visit Bay County? If he feels like making a political statement about the oil spill, he should be in Louisianna or Mississippi. That’s where the majority of the spilled oil is! I have no desire to rush out and see this guy, so let’s hope his stay is short!

Wow! As a visitor to PCB every year, I am appalled at some of the shallow comments I have read. I normally do not repond on blogs, but it seems as if there are truly people on here that choose not to have respect for our president, whether you agree with him or voted for him or not. He is the leader of our country, and we should respect him for that. Someone here spoke of his salary, 400K a year is too much???? Please! I wouldn’t want the job if it paid triple that amount. 20 months is not long enough to repair the mess this president inherited. Whether you agree with his performance or not, Show some respect. It is what it is, he is our president, and we need to show respect. I was just wondering, if John McCain or Sara Palin came here, and the secret service was paid to protect them..would you people be equally opposed to it?

I too am a faithful PCB visitor & have been since birth… I am shocked at the disrespectful comments about the “First” Family coming to PCB for vacation. Not only are you showing disrespect but, you are uneducated about how our government is operated. To think, one is so shallow that you feel this family does not need or should take a vacation & you people speak as if you were paying for it! lol lol Reading all this has indeed given me a chuckle!
As I have reminded many a person before: President Obama is the United States of America “President”. “We”… all of us should show RESPECT for our country’s leader at all times.
You must remember this “Mess” our country is in was this way when President Obama stepped into office… it was indeed inherited, he did not create it but… one thing is for certain He is trying to get us out of it & it will take a long time, it did not happen overnight.
True…… we cannot all agree but, as this reader said: We can show respect. Don’t look as back wood, uneducated morons…… hold your head up & show decent respect. I am ashamed of many of you as you should be ashamed too!
Ash yourself this: Do you really believe this country would have been in any better shape if Mccain/Palin were to have won? Honestly, I do not & there would have been many people talking and saying snide comments if they had. If you think back there already was pretty harsh talk posted about that pair.
Remember this man and his family are just that …..”family” and they should have quality time alone to be just that, a “First Family” enjoying a vacation in Florida.
Show respect next time & if you can’t……… keep your comments to yourself!
Thank you

WOW… I am honestly shocked at all the hatred and anger so many of you feel for someone you have never even met. Look, I had to move away from PCB just so that I could survive in a larger city. Did I want to do that?? No. Was it easy? No. Did I blame someone else so that my misfortune was easier to accept???NO!!! Look, sometimes bad things happen (to both good & bad people). But to see so many of you turn to the president and point your finger and say that it is all his fault is not only selfish, but just downright ignorant. How many of you can honestly say that a week before the election your life was perfect – with little reason to complain… then after the swearing in for President Obama, your life took a turn for the worse and has been on a constant downward spiral ever since?? Very few of us can. The situation that the US is in has been brewing for some time. It is the culmination of decisions from so many in power as well as those that had little power.
To hate the first lady, misquote her, and make a decision on if you like her or not shows nothing but total ignorance on your part. Have you ever said something that as soon as it came out of your mouth was not fully representative of what was in your mind or heart? Have you ever chosen the wrong words and wished you could retract them and perhaps choose different words that more accurately described how you were feeling? If so – welcome to the club… we all have. If not, then consider yourself fortunate because ALL of us have done so (some in more critical situations than others – but it has happened none the less). I am sure you would hope that the person you were speaking to would be understanding enough to know that maybe you didn’t choose the right words and explaining yourself might help the situation.
I really want to know…. What might have the McCains done differently? Would they have come to Panama City? Would they have gone on as many vacations? Would they have upset “left” as much as the Obamas have upset the “right”??? We’ll never know… but I think so many of you who are critical forget to take one thing into consideration. We as the public NEVER have the full story or ALL the details. We are spoon fed so much through the media (who never has the full story either) – yet we are so quick to point out where someone went wrong. I wonder how many opinions and criticisms might change if you were there in the briefing room with the President. How many of your rash comments would be moot when you found out the entire story, not just the 2 minute blurb on the nightly news.
I just wish some of you would stop, think, and try to imagine how someone would handle your day to day life if the only updates they rec’d were summed up in 2 minutes. You would be the first to say “but wait…. There is so much more to the story” . We don’t (nor will we ever) have an inside look at what goes on behind closed doors – so until we do, and have a full understanding of what the circumstances are, should we hate so viciously someone we have never met.
By the way – I am a republican. I don’t believe or support everything Obama has done – and I am sure I would not support everything McCain would have done. But I would at least hope that I would have enough integrity as an American not to spout hate against someone who has never personally done anything to harm me, my family, and those that I love.